The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens Lesson 4—Habit #1 BE PROACTIVE

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Lesson 4—Habit #1

BE PROACTIVE

People are just about as happy as they make up

their mind to be.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN, U.S. PRESIDENT

Covey, Sean (2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens (p. 48). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.

Habit : Be Proactive

Proactive means that you have taken control of your life. You control your actions and attitudes. You are not controlled by your circumstances.

Compare the FISH! Philosophy to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

Habit 1, Be Proactive, sounds a lot like Choose Your Attitude!

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Listen to Your Language

not I but Christ who lives within me

Covey, Sean (2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens (p. 51). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.

REACTIVE LANGUAGE PROACTIVE LANGUAGE

I’ll try. I’ll do it.That’s just the way I am. I can do better than that.There’s nothing I can do. Let’s look at all our

options.

I have to. I choose to.I can’t. There’s got to be a way.You ruined my day. I’m not going to let your

bad mood rub off on me.

Which One Are You?REACTIVE PEOPLE…

Covey, Sean (2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens (p. 52-53). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.

• Are easily offended• Blame others• Get angry and say things they later regret• Whine and complain• Wait for things to happen to them• Change only when they have to

Which One Are You?PROACTIVE PEOPLE…

Covey, Sean (2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens (p. 53). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.

• Are not easily offended• Take responsibility for their choices• Think before they act• Bounce back when something bad happens• Always find a way to make it happen• Focus on things they can do something about, and don’t worry about things they can’t

Being proactive really means two things. First, you

take responsibility for your life.

Second, you have a “can-do” attitude.

Covey, Sean (2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens (p. 63). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.

Covey, Sean (2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens (p. 63). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.

CAN DO PEOPLE NO CAN DO PEOPLETake initiative to make it happen

Wait for something to happen to them

Think about solutions and options

Think about problems and barriers

Act Are acted upon

Baby Steps

1. The next time someone flips you off, give them the peace sign back.

2. Listen carefully to your words today. Count how many times you use reactive language, such as “You make me …” “I have to …” “Why can’t they “I can’t…” Reactive language I use most:____________________

Baby Steps

3. Do something today that you have wanted to do but never dared. Leave your comfort zone and go for it. Raise your hand in class, or join a team.

4. Write yourself a Post-it note: “I will not let________decide how I’m going to feel.” Place it in your locker, on your mirror, or in your planner and refer to it often.

Baby Steps

5. At the next party, don’t just sit against the wall and wait for excitement to find you, you find it. Walk up and introduce yourself to someone new.

6. The next time you receive a grade that you think is unfair, don’t blow it off or cry about it, make an appointment with the teacher to discuss it and then see what you can learn.

Baby Steps

7. If you get in a fight with a parent or a friend, be the first to apologize.

8. Identify something in your circle of no control that you are always worrying about. Decide now to drop it. Thing that I can’t control that I always worry about: ________________

Baby Steps

9. Push the pause button before you react to someone who bumps into you in the hall, calls you a name, or cuts in line.

10. Use your tool of self-awareness right now by asking yourself, “What is my most unhealthy habit?” Make up your mind to do something about it.

Covey, Sean (2011). The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens (pp. 71-73). Touchstone. Kindle Edition.

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